Dark Matter: Official Album Thread

[Thurman Murman]

How do these 10C UPS shipments even work? They generated a tracking number on April 3rd but there's no other information so am i to assume they printed up labels on the 3rd but havent actually shipped anything yet?

[Arthur Morgan]

There has been some discussion in the ‘Wreckage’ thread that the song may be about Chris. A lot of the lyrics last night reminded me of him. I wonder if Andy was to 10 as Chris is to DM.

Why would Ten be about Andy? Ed never knew him at all.

The band have spoken about how Ten was an outpouring of emotion in the wake of Andy’s death. At least for Stone and Jeff. Ten would have been cathartic to them in the way this album would be cathartic to the whole band, I’d imagine.

As opposed to Gigaton which was the album recorded most recently after Cornell’s death?

Ed himself said after Gigaton that he had not dealt with Chris’ passing. Just speculating. There seems to be a lot of loss happening, so probably not just Chris, but it had to be cathartic experience for the band to hear what Ed was writing about.

You’re REALLY wanting this to have happened.

Not really. Just having a little fun trying to understand the inspiration.

Not that there is anything “fun” about the subject matter

[Strat]

Wreckage is very nice. I don’t understand why anyone thinks it would be a great single, though. There is no place for it on radio. We saw that with “Long Way,” which everyone here decried as a single and seemed to hate. They seem like tracks from the same album to me.

Wreckage is so much better than Long Way. This will get plays on rock radio AND lighter rock radio/adult contemporary stations. Dark Matter didn't really hit the latter too much.

possibly even country radio

it's a million times better than Long Way

yeah it's not close. we can cease with the comparisons to long way; there is NO comparison.

wreckage is orders of magnitude better.

Fuck, I should have just pm’d you instead of embarrassing myself.

This has never stopped you before!

[lecherouslittlestump]

It's not about Chris, it's about Eddie's receeding hairline

[Aunt_Claire_Foy]

On Wreckage... Tidal + AirPods Max + Hi quality bitrate = pure joy.

I can make everything out... not going to get too deep into the kit sound, yes, it's different, but man the toms and the ride are spaced so well every fill sounds so natural. Guitars are excellent, bass is GREAT, and Ed's voice sounds about 12 years younger than Lightning Bolt.

[FlatSideofaDog]

Still really like the whole album except Upper Hand (I'm glad many here like it and eternally don't understand that version of pearl jam) and, naturally, Something Special. I don't hear a second single and am surprised by Stone's suggestion that Wreckage would be well-received broadly.

[blueviper]

Wreckage! It's great!

What is Eddie doing in that outro! Whoa!!

[brisk]

I don't like spheres.

[benton netty]

Here's my notes after two listens in the theater and one of my recording of said theater event:

Neat intro speech by Jeff with goofy effects on the mic.

Mike solos are good and not cliche-ridden. Nice, crisp tones. Jeff's bass is loud and throaty. Ed's singing is soaring and within his current range, although it sometimes seems like he's sorta just caterwauling. Some of the lyrics are sorta uninspired and not that imagistic, but at least they don't include the word “Trump” or talk about Sean Penn's career as a novelist. Very glossy, poppy album. Kind of like Yield in that way, but never rocks as hard. Not much riffage. It’s more about melody and chords. Matt plays pretty rigidly. Too much synth and gauzy flair.

Play two featured terrible Windows 95 screensaver graphics. Lame lyrics font. Better in the dark.

Scared – Weirdly major key, nice emphatic darker chorus. Excellent bridge breakdown into whirlwind last chorus. Classic surging PJ.

React, Respond – New wave, fast disco. Not sure if the chorus is vocally up to par. Ending rages nicely. The guitar solo zips around in the multichannel mix in a cool way.

Wreckage – Practically becomes “Learning to Fly” by the end. Like a “Daughter” that gets dangerously close to pop-country. Nice Ed vox at the end. Corny piano. An obvious single choice. (Aaaand…they just released it.)

Dark Matter – probably the heaviest song, as far as riffs/grooves go. Deeper vocal fx on Atmos mix.

Won't Tell – Feels a bit Riot Act and a lot polished like Earthling. Soaring, but like “Invincible” and not classic PJ.

Upper Hand – intro sounds just like “Destination 24” by Wellwater Conspiracy and then gets all “Where the Streets Have No Name” before turning hard into a “Ledbetter” homage. A bit “NAIS.” A bit “Marker.” Corny piano. Good soloing.

Waiting for Stevie – Dumb title. At least that isn't sung. Ed's really flying above the music, here. Nice. The song's not that great, but the end rave-up is. Basically like a new “Alive” solo. Ends with nutty drum bit.

Untitled transition bit – cool music, dumb bumper-sticker philosophy thing where Ed says “Be mighty humble.” Ugh. Barf.

Running – Needed energy boost. No end lyrics.

Something Special – Not that bad, except when Ed directly talks to his kids. Too personal. Too cheese. Starts with studio chatter to tone down corniness, smartly. The backing vocals from this is the “Dark Matter” instrumental intro.

Got to Give – Starts with Elliott Smith-like acoustic intro and ends like an Americana “Baba O’Riley.” Main body of the song is a little generic. Corny piano.

Setting Sun – My brother said this sounded like Jimmy Buffett. I thought of “My Hometown.” “Master/Slave” percussion. “Retrograde” feeling again. Vocals are kinda repetitive. “Kingdom come”? What’s that shit? “Kashmir” mode.

Bottom line: not even close to rocking as hard as I'd hoped it would, but it's got spirit. Time will tell if this roots-grunge stuff has legs.

[Aunt_Claire_Foy]

Lyrics sent via email from band via the announcement of the single:

Visited by thought
Another darkened day
How you are like the sun
Hiding somewhere beyond the rain

I’m needing for the light
Stormy is the grey
Rivers overflowing
Drowning all our yesterdays

Visited by thoughts
On another darkened week
How even every winner
Hits a losing streak

The mistakes we all make
And perfectly repeat
Chains are made, by dna refusing
Refusing to release

Combing through the wreckage
Pouring through the sand
Surrounded by the remnants
What we could and couldn’t have

Raking through the ashes
Falling through my hands
Charcoal on the faces in the
Burned up photographs

Visited by thoughts
And this I got to say
If you’re feeling the leaving
I can’t make you stay

I’ve only ever wanted
For it not to be this way
But you’re now like the water
And the water will find its way

Combing through the wreckage
Holding out,... holding on
Combing through the wreckage
Combing through the wreckage

Visited by thoughts
And not just in the night
That I no longer give a fuck
Who is wrong and who’s right

This game of winner takes all
And all means nothing left
Spoils go the victor
And the other left for dead

Combing through the wreckage
Holding out,... holding on
Combing through the wreckage

Combing through the wreckage
Falling through the wreckage
Crawling through the wreckage
Combing through the wreckage.

[daft twat]

Wreckage is very nice. I don’t understand why anyone thinks it would be a great single, though. There is no place for it on radio. We saw that with “Long Way,” which everyone here decried as a single and seemed to hate. They seem like tracks from the same album to me.

Wreckage is so much better than Long Way. This will get plays on rock radio AND lighter rock radio/adult contemporary stations. Dark Matter didn't really hit the latter too much.

possibly even country radio

it's a million times better than Long Way

yeah it's not close. we can cease with the comparisons to long way; there is NO comparison.

wreckage is orders of magnitude better.

Fuck, I should have just pm’d you instead of embarrassing myself.

This has never stopped you before!

I keep forgetting how objective music is! I’m a moron.

[basically_infirmed]

I don't like spheres.

appreciated this

[EBowie]

Zane Lowe interview coming too

[brisk]

Zane Lowe interview coming too

He has great taste in music but is cringey as hell.

[Hatfield]

Not sure if this has been posted:



^^^^Really worth watching for those interested in the writing/recording process with Watt.

[digster]

Combing through the wreckage
Pouring through the sand
Surrounded by the remnants
What we could and couldn’t have

Raking through the ashes
Falling through my hands
Charcoal on the faces in the
Burned up photographs

These are some particularly good lyrics.

[wilkins]

Did the other singles get email announcements with the lyrics?

And yeah, Zane Lowe interviews can be good, when he finally ends his 5 minute self-important/aggrandizing soliloquy of a question to let the artist speak, but definitely cringey.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[Aunt_Claire_Foy]

Did the other singles get email announcements with the lyrics?

They did not. Nor did Ed's solo singles. Might be a first.

[wease]

Did the other singles get email announcements with the lyrics?

And yeah, Zane Lowe interviews can be good, when he finally ends his 5 minute self-important/aggrandizing soliloquy of a question to let the artist speak, but definitely cringey.

Thank you! I hate that guy so much. Probably a good hang in real life, just a crap interview.

Who do you hate more? Watt or Lowe?